UAA Suspends Search For Head Hockey Coach
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The University of Alaska Anchorage is suspending its search for a head hockey coach in hopes of getting a more "robust" pool of candidates.
"We are committed to getting this right," UAA Chancellor Tom Case said in a news release issued Thursday.
Case said the move was being made so that the university can restructure the search committee and review job criteria for the posting "to ensure that we are choosing from the most robust possible pool of candidates."
UAA is replacing Dave Shyiak, who was fired after eight losing seasons.
The university recently hosted four finalists: Colorado Air Force associate head coach Mike Corbett; Damon Whitten, an assistant at Michigan Tech; Chris Brown, the head coach at Augsburg College in Minnesota; and Gary Heenan, the head coach at Utica College in New York.
"We hope those candidates will continue to keep their hats in the ring," Case said.
The decision to suspend the search was made in response to strong community interest in the selection of a new head coach and the future of Seawolf Athletics, Case said. He described the community's interest as "positive."
"We all want the future of Seawolf hockey to be bright, so slowing down for reflection and adjustment of our process will serve us well," Case said.
Last month, the UAA Hockey Alumni Association issued a no-confidence vote in UAA athletic director Steve Cobb after what it said had been years of estrangement. The vote followed another no-confidence vote approved by the Alaska State Hockey Association.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
